What Do You Mean I Can't Sing?!





What I would act like on stage

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a singer in a rock and roll band. I wanted to play the guitar. I wanted to be on stage impressing my millions of fans with my ability to both sing and play, maybe more then one instrument, maybe the guitar and the drums, better then anyone. Of course I never did one thing to try and accomplish that goal. I figured my chances of doing so were pretty much zero to none, so I didn't even try. I figured I'd be a whole lot better at it in my head then in real life. But this didn't stop me from singing. When I was a kid, I'd make up songs and sing them in the back of my folks pickup, my "stage".  I remember being very dramatic about it. I wonder if anyone was watching me? I hope not.

I still do it, not act like an idiot in the back of a pickup, but make up songs. I can sing anything. You name it I have a song for it. For some reason, just about anything a person say to me or around me, makes me think of a song.

me totally cool playing the guitar

The truly sad thing is, no one appreciates it. All day long people are yelling at me, "Roxanna, is that you singing?" "Roxanna are you humming?" "Roxanna please shut up." "Roxanna please don't start." "Roxanna you have many talents, but singing isn't one of them."

me even cooler playing the drums

You can imagine how crushing that would be to my self esteem. I mean really, how many people can do that? Just think up a song out of mid-air? Sometimes the songs I sing are real songs, like if someone said, "I love to dance." I'd sing, "I could have danced all night..." I don't make up all of them, just most. Mainly because I don't know all the words to the song, so I make up the rest. I think that's rather clever, don't you?

Like if someone said, "I'll never get all this work done!" I'd sing, "I can't get this work done, but I don't care, because I have such pretty hair."
Now who wouldn't love that? An artist is never appreciated in his own town.

I write poems too. I wrote one about the accident when I lost my glasses and Connie her wig. It was called, "The Blind and The Bald".

Here is a poem I wrote about one of the hurricanes we had here in Florida.
                                               

 Ode to Fay

Oh Fay, Oh Fay,

What can I say.

Should you come,

Or stay away?

stupid people out in the hurricane

Your swirly whirlies in the sky,

Help us Lord!! WE’ER GOING TO DIE!!

Around and around you go,

Through the ocean to and fro.

One moment you’re in Aruba,

The next,  blowing over Cuba.

On a path toward Florida State,

I’m glad a ONE is all you rate.

The rain it has already begun,

I do not think this will be fun.

If we get off work, now that might be nice,

they wouldn't have to tell me twice!

I’ll pack up my survival kit ,

I’ll call some friends and then we’ll sit.

And eat our cookies and potato chips,

Listen to the weatherman for tips.

None of us we will do what he said.

It won’t matter ‘cause we’ll all be dead!

So Fay, Fay what can I say,

If you do come, please don’t stay.

Just blow right through, take an hour,

But please, please don't take our power.

Please just go and don’t come back.

I’ll even come and help you pack.

            the end



me doing a reading



              

Now is that talent or what? Just imagine that as a song!  But I'll not be deterred! I will carry on with my quest to sing about everything I hear. I can't help it. It's just in me.

And if you don't like it,

I don't care.

I'll do it anyway,

So there.

The End

Being A Long Distant Auntie (part 2) My Nephew Jimmy

 My nephew Jimmy was only 5 when I moved to Florida. Jimmy is my sister Sherry's son. It's hard to leave the little ones because you're so afraid they will forget you. Then they come to visit and you kind of wish they they had. Just kidding!  =}

Jimmy was a cute baby, when he started to walk, his mom dressed him in long t-shirt and shorts. He reminded us all of Charlie Brown. He was a happy baby, lots of smiles and laughs. I remember one time, when he was about a year old, he and his folks came to visit. When you came into our apt. you first came through the dinning room and the kitchen entry was right there as well. You could walk through the kitchen and come out in the living room. So that's the way Jimmy went. In the 5 seconds it took him to walk through the kitchen he managed to stop, open a drawer and came into the living room caring cookie cutter and all sorts of things, so happy, all smiles, very proud of himself. I could not believe he did that so fast! When I went into the kitchen to see what drawer he had gotten into, I saw there were also several large knifes in it. I'm glad he chose the cookie cutters.



Jimmy at one with grandma and
grandpa

 On one visit to see him, his mom went out and I stayed with Jimmy. I was in the kitchen and he came in just chewing away on something. I panicked. What was he eating?! I pried open his little mouth and it was full of fuzz from a toy we had given him. I guess he thought it tasted really good because he wouldn't let me get it out and swallowed before I could try again. Oh well, he didn't choke or anything and he seemed fine so I didn't worry about it, but I hid the toy.

Jimmy was very close to his grandparent,( my folks), and saw them often. Sherry would usually bring mom when she came to see us. (Sherry lived in Barstow, Connie and I in Huntington Beach about a 2hr drive) Jimmy was always very sweet with my mom. Mom had many health problems and Jimmy seem to be aware of it, even at 3. He would often pat my mom on the back and ask, "You okay grandma?" He really missed them when they passed on.

When he was 5 we went to Calif. for Christmas. My folks were gone by then and all us kids got together at Sherry's. Just before we ate, Sherry was talking to Jimmy about Christmas and she said, "You know, Christmas is Jesus' birthday." He replied, "It is?! I didn't know that!" It was so cute. Before we ate Jimmy said he wanted to pray. He had us all stand and hold hands and say something we were thankful for. We couldn't believe a 5 year old could think of that. When we finished, he prayed the sweetest prayer, "Thank Jesus for this wonderful day when we can all be together and open gifts."


Jimmy at 11


Jimmy loved to hear stories of my folks, and of us and his mom, when we were kids. He would asked to hear the same story over and over, and he would laugh just as hard each time. On one of our visits home, I had acted very silly around him. He thought I was so funny. When we went to his home to have dinner one evening, he came running out and gave me a big hug. It was very sweet.

Since we have moved to Florida, Jimmy with is folks, and later just his mom, have been to visit 4 times. His first visit we went to Disney World. Jimmy had never been to anything like that. He was about 6 or 7 and was a bit overwhelmed by it all. He decided he had a tummy ache about 45mins after we arrived. He didn't want to go on any of the rides. So I had an idea, I said, "Why don't we go on 'It's a Small World'. It's a very slow, tame ride, he can see that there's nothing to be afraid of. Then I bet he will want to go on more." So we did and it worked. He went on tons of rides after that and had a wonderful time.


On an airboat ride. We're in the
back row. Fun!!


Jimmy's mom has always been very involved in her Church and Jimmy has been attending church since he was born. As he grew older he began attending a church in Barstow with some of his friends. He loved it and became very involved. He is on the worship team, has attended many all night prayer viduals, and has done a lot of neighborhood witnessing. I'm so glad these are the activities he chooses to be involved in.

He's had some rough things to deal with in life, his parents divorce and his mom having cancer, but he keeps his faith in the Lord. Right now his is on his way to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City MO. I hope this will be life changing for him. I hope it opens his eyes to all he can be and all he should be in Christ. I'm very proud of him for going. I can't wait to hear all about it.

Jimmy with his aunties on a visit
to FL

Jimmy turned 16 this year, hard to believe, and now has his licence. Look out all you little horned toads out on the desert, Jimmy's coming through.  I love you Jimmy.










Jimmy with his niece Kloie. (Jimmy has
    2 half sisters and a half brother)



<>

Jimmy on one of his visits to Florida. He
and Izabella Lewis became good friends.





Big smiles



Showing off the t-shirt his aunties gave him



Jimmy love his mom



Turning the big 16



Jimmy today. I think he has grown just a bit.
Jimmy, my sis-in-love Traci,
and niece Emily



Being a long distant Auntie (part one) My Niece Emily






When I moved to Florida one of the hardest things about doing that, beside leaving my beautiful apt. just a 1/4 mile from the beach, was leaving my little niece and nephew. My sister Sherry's son, Jimmy was just 4 and my brother Mike's daughter, Emily, was just 9. I was close to both kids, seeing them often. I didn't want them growing up without me.

So I send them cards, often with a "surprise" inside so I could bribe them into still loving me and not forgetting who I am. 

And then there's Facebook. What a great way to stay in touch. Both my niece and nephew have profiles so I can spy on them, oh I mean, keep up with their lives and see recent pictures.

Let me tell you about my niece Emily. She was not a fun baby, at first anyway.  She came out screaming her head off and she pretty much did that for the first 3 months of her life.
When her folks needed Connie and I to babysit,
we'd let the answering machine pick up

and pretend not to be home. Not really, we wanted to be with her, but man could she scream. Then one day that stopped and she was the best baby in the world. Always laughing and happy, fun to be with and she loved having her aunties visit.

When she learned to talk, she would say the funniest things. Her first word was 'pie' and when she learned to say more, you could ask her how much pie she wanted and she'd say, "just a smidge."

When she was about 5 we were all at my folks visiting and she  stayed in a room with Connie and I. After the lights were out and we were ready to fall a sleep, she says, "I hope there's a decent place to buy a donut in this town."

She was always cracking us up. She still does. She has a good sense of humor along with many other wonderful qualities. Right now she is attending Vanguard Univ in So Calif. She was asked to participate in a summer physics program. Few are chosen for this honor, but she has been getting straight A's her whole life, so it's not really a surprise.

 She is going into forensic science, you know, CSI. We often wonder who she takes after. What we really think is aliens dropped her off, or maybe there was a mix up at the hospital, it's just hard to believe she is really related to any of us. Anyway, we are very glad she is in our family, however she got here. She will be a senior this fall, and the first in my family, and her moms, to graduate from college. She is smart, beautiful, (of course we know who she gets that from  =} ). She is lots of fun and she can sing! Best of all she loves the Lord. She's a great kid, well woman now, and has never given her parents,or Aunties, a moment of worry. I love you Emily and am very proud of you!




Emily and her BFF Megan

 



Emily rooting for the Patriots
(Well I didn't say she was perfect.)

 


Emily as Judy Jetson and Megan as Penny from Toy Story



Emily on the Red Capet with Nicole Kidman
(We're so proud!)

Getting her hand prints on The Walk Of Fame
(I hate to brag)



Her role in Spider-Man
(Isn't she amazing!)



Here she is as Daphne in Scooby Dooby Doo
(So talented)

 

The only man her dad would let her date

 


Sorry daddy but she has found a real man
Emily with boyfriend Taylor

 

The Fam. Mom Traci, Emily, and Dad (my brother) Mike

I've been working how long?!! (part 2)

When I tell people I have worked at Wycliffe for 35 years, often they gasp or their eyes bug out. Not many people today want to be in a job that long. I heard or read somewhere that people stay at a job for 2 years at most now days. Why are they changing jobs so often and where do they find all these jobs? I don't know, but I would hate to switch jobs so often. It takes about 3 mos to really train a person for the job I do and at least a year for them to really learn it well. I would hate to train a person who is only planning on sticking around for 2 years. They'd just getting started in this job.

One of the really sad things about telling people what I do is they assume you don't have to be very bright to do this job, that just about anyone with a pulse could do it. Well I'll tell you what, if you think that, you come spend a day doing what I do, and then tell me what you think. The people I work with are all very bright, sharp people and the brighter they are the better the job they do and the greater asset they are to the dept. If they just had a pulse and warmed a desk chair, there would be great frustration, we'd be buried in work, and I'd be real unhappy.

Meet Teresa. She is one of our bright, dedicated workers. Teresa has been here 12 years. She is in before 6am every day and I mean every day. The boss has to make her take time off (something the boss has never had to worry about with me) and she is rarely sick. When the work comes in, it is checked to be sure only coupons get opened and scanned first, lots of other mail gets in with the coupon mail and has to be sorted out. Teresa is always one of the first to begin that process. She is also our champion opener. She is hard working, sweet as can be, and truly loves the Lord. She is best buddies with our other Theresa. It can get rather confusing when talking about  or calling them. We often say, "the Little Theresa," to distinguish them, but they are both so little, that's not a big help. Teresa is a great worker and good friend.

Debbie relating a story or giving a cheer.

Meet Debbie, she is the assistant boss in my dept. She is fun, cheerful, a cheerleader, and very talented. She is also one of our bakers. When she says, "I brought goodies!" We pay attention. It is always somethings scrumptious and never lasts long. Debbie can knit, croquet, quilt, sew, paint, you name it she can do it. She has made me 2 beautiful afghans. Yes Debbie is a good person to know and work with. She is also giving and kind. Something that is always an asset in any dept. Debbie 1 husband, 2 grown children and 3 cats.

Meet The Boss Connie. This is what life has been like lately in our Dept. Makes you want to cry. We just got a new system and it has been rough. We have been so behind, nothing going right, lots of mistakes. But in May with the help of another dept. who graciously gave their time to help, we got caught up and have stay that way. So now things are much better and there are many more smiles. Connie is the best boss ever. She is caring, encouraging, she does anything and everything to help out. She works long hour for no pay as she doesn't get over time. She is a friend to all her employees, and she has only fallen down once while at work, well she has fallen down the stairs a few times, but only once in our dept.



Me, taking my work seriously



And then there's me. You already know me so I won't say much. I don't really think I'm as hard a worker as the other girls. After 30 some years in here, I kind of know how things go and I don't panic much over the work anymore. I'm kind of laid back about it. I'm also not as speedy as they are. I never used a mouse until we started a new system shortly after moving to FL. (we've had many, many, many new systems since ) In CA we just had terminals, no mouse required. So I'm very clumsy with the mouse. If one of the young whipper snappers are asking me to look up something on my PC, they usually get rather frustrated with me and grab the mouse and do it themselves. But that's okay. I often say, "Erica, I can't find this." real whiny like and she'll come over and say, "Just let me do it!" after seeing how slow I am. It works out real well for me.





The Crew, however several are no longer in our dept. The young man kneeling (Kevin) has moved on as well as the young lady (Ginger)  in the back row to the right of me. They were fun to work with too.



So there you have it. A top notch crew, working together like a well oiled machine, and having lots of fun together. I love my little co-workers. They're the best.

I've been working how long?!! (part 1)

Are you sure about that number?

This year makes 35 years I have been working for Wycliffe. I have been working longer then most of my co-workers have been alive. Kinda depressing huh?



But I'm glad I have all these years at Wycliffe. How many people can say their job counts for all eternity? Countless people have the bible in their own language because of the work Wycliffe does. I will see people from every tribe and every nation in heaven because of bible translation.





 I'm also very glad I work at Wycliffe after hearing the horror stories my brother and his wife tell of working for the government. They both work at the Marine Base in Barstow CA. My sister-in-law, Conni, has a very high position, and is pretty much the only one who works in her dept. One thing about the government, they don't fire anyone, no matter how incompetent. I guess we already knew that. My brother, Tim, has even had his life threatened by one of his co-worker. His boss sent him to Anger Management. Gee, thanks. That will keep my brother safe.



My sweet, young co-workers (from left to right) Latricia, Krystle and Erica,
who were not yet born when I began work at Wycliffe.

Now let me tell you about my co-worker. So far no one has threatened my life and if you know me, you know that is quite an accomplishment. In fact it is quite the opposite. My co-workers give me life. They make each day fun. They are dedicated to the work and to the Lord, I'm the only lazy one in the bunch.  They are kind and giving, several are good bakers, a valued talent in this department. They are good moms and good friends.

The three pictured above are very fun to work with. I am proud to call them my friends. They will have 12 children between them (Latricia is expecting #7). They work hard all day then have to work hard all evening. I have met all their kids and love them. They are all three wonderful moms.





Ruthie the birthday girl.



This is my co-worker Ruth. Ruth is a hoot. She has more shoes then Emelda Marcos and a killer wardrobe. I look homeless next to her. Ruth just had a birthday and as you can see she is holding a balloon that says, "another year of FABULOUS". It's the perfect balloon for Ruth. Ruth is very entertaining. Almost everyday she regales us with stories about some adventure she has had. Ruth has been all over the world and knows many famous people, well she knows me anyway. Ruth works in our Electronic Fund Transfer Dept. which means donations are transferred  from donors checking or saving accounts. (Hum, I'm beginning to wonder about all those shoes.)



Meet Mother Theresa. Theresa is the guardian of the Receipts Department. Nothing gets passed her, she sees all. She's got good eyes, great hearing, a quick mind and a huge heart. She's a hard worker, starting her day at 3:30am (is that day?) so she can be to work before 6. She and her sweet husband Willy 

Mother Theresa keeping  an eye on me

also work hard in their church and have a ministry with the elderly, (and anyone else in need). Theresa spends many evenings at the hospital 

She's also one of our bakers, one of the main reason she's was hired. She is a great mom with kids all over the country, several in the military, and is grandmother to something like 23 grand kids. (Why isn't this woman laying down?)

Meet Julia. Julia also works in Electronic Fund Transfers. She thinks Ruth is her asst., but we all know better. Julia is every ones best friend. She is fun, a hard worker and a great mom to her beautiful daughter Helen. Helen was just 8 when Julia began working at Wycliffe. Now she is all growed up and married. Julia also occasionally  wears two different shoes.




Julia hard at work on EFT



Julia's shoes



















 



Stay tuned for part 2 of the exciting adventures of my co-workers!